Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: GUEST,Richard I
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 07:49 PM

I was reading through the "'new' traditional songs" thread, and I was very interested to see a sideline of debate over whether You'll Never Walk Alone (originally Rodgers and Hammerstein, via Gerry Marsden, now adopted by Liverpool FC fans) should be considered a folk song.

As MtheGM wrote in that thread, "Moreover, Jim, re Never Walk Alone: it has become part of a regular ritual, sung by people, many of whom are probably unaware of its origin, on specific occasions ~~ or, rather, a repeated specific occasion, a match in which Liverpool FC are playing. It could almost, it seems to me, be included in a reissue of the old Caedmon/Topic Folk Songs Of Britain set, volume 9, Songs Of Ceremony."


I have a personal interest in this topic, because I am a Liverpool FC fan, for whom the singing of this song is indeed a ritual.

But thinking over and beyond YNWA, I would say that the continuing existance of a proper tradition of community singing and oral tradition among football fans is really something worth celebrating. In actual fact there are very few songs I've got through the "oral tradition", and most of them are either football songs or lullabys. Singing at the match and in the pub before and afterwards is part of what it means to be a football fan, and learning the words to the songs is part of the initiation ("you got your education from the Kop" as we sing at Liverpool)

So I wanted to start this thread a) to pursue the discussion of whether the songs sung by football fans, rugby fans, and any other sports fans who sing as a community and pass the songs on as part of an oral culture, are really folk songs. Something I'm particularly curious about: would any of you get up and sing these sports fans songs at folk clubs, or at singarounds etc.? I have, not sure how welcome it was though. But then again, surely what's being sung as part of a thriving communal oral tradition is far more 'folk music' than the ossified stuff at folk clubs, right? [/devils advocate]

and b) to ask people if they have interesting examples of songs that are sung by sports fans. Football, rugby, baseball, whatever.

Subject: Lyr Add: POOR SCOUSER TOMMY
From: GUEST,Richard I
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 07:52 PM

Just to get the ball rolling, here's one of my favourite Liverpool FC songs, apparently first heard on the terraces in the 1970s. There are a lot of disagreements about the words, this is the version that I learned, but some people will swear blind that e.g. it should be 'libyan sun' and not 'arabian sun'.

POOR SCOUSER TOMMY
(first part to the tune of Red River Valley, second part to the tune of The Sash)

Let me tell you the story of a poor boy
Who was sent far away from his home
To fight for his King and his country
And also the old folks back home

So they put him in a Highland division
Sent him off to a far foreign land
Where the flies swarm around in their thousands
And there's nothing to see but the sand

In the battle that started next morning
Under an Arabian sun
I remember that Poor Scouser Tommy
Who was shot by an old Nazi gun

As he lay on the battlefield dying (dying dying)
With the blood gushing out of his head (of his head)
As he lay on the battlefield dying (dying dying)
These were the last words he said:

Ohhhhhhh I am a Liverpudlian
I come from the Spion Kop
I like to sing, I like to shout
I get thrown out quite a lot (every week)

I support the team that plays in red
A team that we all know
A team that we call Liverpool
And to glory we will go

We've won the league, we've won the cup
We've been to Europe too
We've played the toffees for a laugh
And left them feeling blue (five-nil)
1
2
123
1234
Five-nil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 07:59 PM

Bring It On Home by the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club.
Oh the Rangers Are $h!te by the Celtic Football Club.
Those are popular sports songs.
I have the lyrics to that Celtic one in another thread. I'll find it
and copy it to this thread.

Subject: Lyr Add: NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 12 Feb 11 - 04:51 PM

This song is commonly played by the home team at sporting events when
they beat the visiting team. Usually they just play the chorus.

NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE - by "Steam"

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

He'll never love you, the way that I love you
'Cause if he did, no no, he wouldn't make you cry
He might be thrillin' baby but a-my love (my love, my love)
So dog-gone willin'
So kiss him (I wanna see you kiss him. Wanna see you kiss him)
Go on and kiss him goodbye, now

Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

Listen to me now

He's never near you to comfort and cheer you
When all those sad tears are fallin' baby from your eyes
He might be thrillin' baby but a-my love (my love, my love)
So dog-gone willin'
So kiss him (I wanna see you kiss him. I wanna see you kiss him)
Go on and kiss him goodbye, na-na na-na-na na na

Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

[fade in]
Hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
[repeat many times and fade out]

Source: stlyrics.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Feb 11 - 05:00 PM

I've given it before but Norwich City have what is probably the oldest football song. The chorus is still sung by supporters.

    In the days to call, which we have left behind,
    Our boyhood's glorious game,
    And our youthful vigour has declined
    With its mirth and its lonesome end;
    You will think of the time, the happy time,
    Its memories fond recall
    When in the bloom of your youthful prime
    We've kept upon the ball

    Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
    Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
    On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
    Steady on, now's your chance,
    Hurrah! We've scored a goal.

    Let all tonight then drink with me
    To the football game we love,
    And wish it may successful be
    And in one grand united toast
    Join player, game and song
    And fondly pledge your pride and toast
    Success to the City club.

    Kick off, throw in, have a little scrimmage,
    Keep it low, a splendid rush, bravo, win or die;
    On the ball, City, never mind the danger,
    Steady on, now's your chance,
    Hurrah! We've scored a goal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Ball,_City

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUTERS O' SELKIRK
From: Allan Conn
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 05:51 AM

I know of another song which is still sung regularly locally (though not at football matches as such) which 'possibly' started out as a celebration of victory after a football match in the first half of the 18thC between the town of Selkirk and the men of the Merse ( ie from estates of the Earl of Hume) in the Scottish Borders. There would have been an added edge to it as by tradition Selkirk lost many men at the 16thC Battle of Flodden (ie The Flooers o' the Forest) and the Earl of Hume's men were accused, probably unfairly, of leaving the field of conflict. This explanation of the song is stated in the book "Songs of Scotland Prior To Burns" which was edited by Robert Chambers in 1862. It states that the illusion to Flodden has given rise to the idea that the song was about Flodden but the said explanation is taken from the earlier Statistical Account of Selkirk by the Rev Robertson. No date given for that publication. Though I moved away I am a Souter in that I was born in Selkirk – the word means shoe-maker.

The football in mind of course is not modern football but its precursor which is still played through the streets of some towns from the north of Scotland down to certainly as far as Derbyshire. The most famous annual Borders game is Jethart Ba' (ie Jedburgh) between the Uppies and Dounies which was played just three days ago.

THE SOUTERS O' SELKIRK.

Up wi the souters o' Selkirk
And down wi the Earl of Hume
But up wi ilka braw callant
That sews the single soled shoon

        Fy upon yellow and yellow
        And fy upon yellow and green
        But up wi the true blue and scarlet
        And up wi the single soled shoon

Up wi the lads o' the Forest
That ne'er to the Southron would yield
But deil scoup o' Hume and his menyie
That stood sae abeigh in the field

Fy on the green and the yellow
The craw hearted loons o' the Merse
But here's tae the souters o' Selkirk
The elshin, the lingle, the birse

Then up wi the souters o' Selkirk
For aye they are baith trusty and leal
And up wi the lads o' the Forest
And down wi the Merse to the deil.


Couldn't find a good clip of song being sung but this youtube clip of the Common Riding shows the Casting of the Colours ceremony which is done to said tune


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3vd7KsTs3A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:22 AM

I supppose there are numerous definitions of what makes a song 'Folk' One I've read and agree with is 'music of the times and people of those times' Which fully qualifies The Liverpool anthem, especially now you've got King Kenny back and that's wort singing about. I'm A Birmingham City F.C sympathiser (they disappoint so much!) and their anthrm is Keep Right On To The End Of THe Road, which I rate a folk song too, even if the road for B'Ham supporters is getting woefully longer each season!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 09:45 AM

Unless you've got the bloke that wrote 'Three Lions', i suppose i win this round. My song about Karl heinz Rummenigge is mentioned in every biography of the great man, and i'm in the boxed set of delights for Bayern Munich fans.

The song even made it to the terraces - well an obscene version of it did. It was about the time he got transferred to Inter Milan, and there was a version saying KHR was an unpatriotic scoundrel for going abroad.

http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/id12.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: Clontarf83
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:24 PM

Manchester City fans sing (?) (More like shout) the refrain from "Blue Moon". Definitely not folk. It doubles as a triumphal hymn when things go well on the field and as a defiant song of support when things go sideways

My favourite one (I think it came from West Ham supporters,) regarding a forward who always seemed to shoot over the bar

"When you sit in row z
And a ball hits our head
that's Zamora"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:31 PM

Irish fans love 'Fields of Athenry'

In Wales you'll often hear Max Boyce's 'Hymns and Arias'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 09:26 AM

Celtic FC also use "Fields of Athenry", which makes it a bit of problem in some quarters in scotland (i.e. if around any Rangers fans!

Ipswich Town also had "Keep Right on to the End of the Road" back in the 60s when Alf Ramsey was manager (before he went on to be England's World Cup manager). As far as I know, it's no longer their song. Never a folk song: it was written by Harry Lauder, after the death of his son in WW1 see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Lauder
and listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgqhdpPB8Y4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: melodeonboy
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 09:48 AM

"I asked Don Revie the other day
Have you heard of the North Bank, Highbury?
Don said 'No, I don't think so
But I've heard of the Rainham End, Gillingham'"

I know the tune, but can't name it!

Circa 1970, I think!

There was also, around the same time, the rather more aggressive "adapted" last two lines of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles":

"Tottenham always running, Chelsea running too
Here come the Gillingham boot boys, running after you!"

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERY OTHER SATURDAY
From: GUEST,Richard I
Date: 15 Feb 11 - 10:49 AM

Interesting stuff (to me anyway!) so far

Here's a song that's originally a Rangers song from the 1960s I think (The version i know is one that's been adapted for Liverpool, but I'll give the original Rangers version here)
I think it's a fantastic song, one of the real classic football songs, which is probably why LFC fans have tried to sing it themselves...

EVERY OTHER SATURDAY

Every other Saturday's my half day off
And it's off the match I go
Happily we wonder down the Copland road
Me and my wee pal Joe
We love to see the lassies with the blue scarves on
We love to hear the boys all roar
But I don't have to tell you that the best of all
We love to see the Rangers score

Me oh me oh me oh my
Oh how we love to see them try
We love to see the lassies with the blue scarves on
We love to hear the boys all roar
But I don't have to tell you that the best of all
We love to see the Rangers score

We've won the Scottish league almost every time
The league cup's a simple do
We've gave some exhibitions in the Scottish cup
We gave some Wembley Wizards too
And when the Glasgow Rangers win the European Cup
As we done with the one before
We'll gather down at Ibrox
A hundred thousand strong
And give the boys a Ibrox roar

Me oh me oh me oh my
Oh how we love to see them try
We love to see the lassies with the blue scarves on
We love to hear the boys all roar
But I don't have to tell you that the best of all
We love to see the Rangers score

Subject: Lyr Add: OH THE RANGERS ARE SHITE+BRING IT ON HOME
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 08:17 PM

In an earlier post, I mentioned I posted the lyrics to "Oh The Rangers
Are Shite" in an another thread. I didn't find it, but I'll post them here, and the other song that I mentioned "Bring It On Home".

OH THE RANGERS ARE SHITE - Glasgow Celtic
Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
They're no match for our boys in Green and White
Jeffers and Fanfare are up to the fight
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

G. Strachans' got us playing football
Big eck's banging his head on the wall
But all his shite signings are his after all
Soon he'll be getting the call

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

4th in the league is their spot
They're nearer to 8th place than they are to the top
the huns, they are fuming, their giants been stopped
yet Big Eck is offered the job

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

Big Eck, he will sign anything
Big Marvin's a ballbag, Stan Petrov's a king
and Danny's a fanny, he shags Novo's ring
so raise up your glasses and sing

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

Now Murray, he looks on with dread
He's spent all his heathers
He's got fuck all left
But Rangers in crisis has never been said,
Even though their season is dead

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite

Oh, the Rangers are Shite
Wee Dick's spent their money, Big Eck's got it tight
They deal in Bosmans, while we get it right
Oh, the Rangers are Shite



BRING IT ON HOME - Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
'Til we roll to the final whistle
Caley and the Jags
wearing their red and blue
Caley and the Jags
Doing their best for you
(Could be doing it just for you).

Hearts have been broken
Many an angry word's been spoken
Families disunited
Father and son on opposite sides
But all through the tears
And the memories of those golden years
Two teams into one
Bring it (yet to be transcribed phrase)
Always be a winner
(Doing it just for you)

Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
'Til we roll to the final whistle
Caley and the Jags
wearing their red and blue
Caley and the Jags
Doing it just for you

Caley and Thistle
Teams of a town divided
Strong, brave, defiant
Never give in 'til the final whistle
Right to the end
Both sides have fought their battles
Now just as one team
They're on the run
A new fight's begun
And Thistle and Eagle are one

Bring it on home

Bring it on home

Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
??? ??? to the final whistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
Til we roll to the final whistle
Caley and the Jags
wearing their red and blue
Caley and the Jags
Doing it just for you

Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Bring it on home, bring it on home
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
(fade)

In "Bring It On Home" the lyrics are based on the history of the club
when two teams merged to for the ICT Football Club, nicknamed the
"Caley Jags". I had help from the fan's forum. The recording that
I have is tricky when transcribing the lyrics.

Subject: Souters o' Selkirk
From: Matt Seattle
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 07:15 AM

I'm intrigued to know the source of Allan Conn's version of Souters o' Selkirk (posted in RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans)

It is the fullest lyric I've ever come across, and having now looked up "The elshin, the lingle, the birse" I find they are all shoemaking terms, in lines which escaped Burns and Scott - great stuff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs sung by football/other sports fans
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:57 PM

At Easter Road you're likely to hear the Proclaimers' "Sunshine on Leith".